PA/PA Wire
More than 300 hate crime incidents have been reported in the last week; the statistics come as David Cameron this week pledged to increase spending on tackling racist attacks

NPCC Chairwoman Sara Thornton wrote in a blog: "It is important to remember that this is only one reporting mechanism and extensive focus on this issue in the last few days will have influenced these numbers by making hate crime and the site more visible and encouraging people to report.

"We also cannot determine how many of the reports are linked to the referendum."

The Prime Minister said a new action plan on tackling hate crime will be published soon while the Crown Prosecution Service will issue new guidance to prosecutors on racially aggravated crime.

Cameron said: “These attacks are appalling and they need to stop and it’s right everyone in this House and everyone on all sides of the referendum debate utterly condemns them. That’s not what we do in Britain.

There's an increase in community tension directed at the migrant community - this is still a small minority & police are responding strongly

“Let me say I reassured prime ministers of countries, such as Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic, who are concerned about this issue at the meeting we had last night.

“So we do monitor these attacks and the Home Secretary gets regular reports.

“But I can tell the House we will be publishing a new action plan on tackling hate crime shortly to step up our response.

“We want new steps to boost reporting of hate crime and supporting victims, new CPS guidance to prosecutors on racially aggravated crime, a new fund for protective security measures at potentially vulnerable institutions and additional funding to community organisations so they can tackle hate crime.

“Whatever we can do we will do to drive these appalling hate crimes out of our country.”